USS Plunkett DD-431

The USS Plunkett (DD-431) was a Gleaves-class destroyer named for Rear Admiral Charles Peshall Plunkett. Her keel was laid down 1 March 1939 by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company of Kearny, New Jersey and she was launched on 7 March 1940. The Plunkett was commissioned 17 July of that year under command of Lt. Commander P. G. Hale.

World War II

December 7, 1941 found the Plunkett en route from Reykjavik, Iceland to the U.S. Naval Station on Argentia. Prior to that, she was involved in the Neutrality Patrol in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. She continued in these convoy escort duties until March 1942 when she engaged in joint operations in the North Sea with the British Royal Navy until mid-May. After escorting the battleship USS New York back to the United States, the Plunkett was assigned to escort duty along the east coast and in the Caribbean until August.

Between mid-August and early November, the Plunkett accompanied UK-bound convoys across the North Atlantic. On 2 November, she departed New York on her first escort run to North Africa, transporting reinforcement troops and equipment to Casablanca, Morocco. After a few weeks of patrol duty off the Moroccan coast, she returned to New York and then continued local operations off southern New England. Except for one convoy run to Morocco, she continued in this capacity until May 1943.

North Africa and the Mediterranean

The Plunkett returned to North Africa in the late spring of 1943. For the next several months, she escorted convoys, conducted routine patrols and participated in bombardments in advance of the Allied invasion of Sicily.

These missions continued until 21 January 1944 when she sailed to escort a follow-up assault group to Anzio. After landing the troops, she remained in the area to screen the transports. Three days later, she was hit by a 250-kg bomb and caught fire. In addition to over 80 casualties, the vessel suffered extensive damage to her fire control apparatus, armament and port engine. She was able to limp into Palermo for temporary repairs that ultimately enabled her to return to New York for more extensive restoration.

On 5 May 1944, she departed New York for European waters. Arriving at Belfast on the 14th, she remained there until 3 June, then sailed toward the English Channel for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy. On 6 June, she screened the transports off Omaha beach and remained for another three days for patrols. In July, the Plunkett returned to the Mediterranean to prepare for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France. Combat duties in this area continued until 23 November, when she sailed for Oran to pick up a convoy back to the United States. The Plunkett arrived in New York on 16 January 1945.

Hostilities ended before the Plunkett was able to return to combat duty, although various training, escort and transport duties kept her occupied for several months. She was ultimately decommissioned on 3 May 1946 and berthed at Charleston, South Carolina as a unit of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet. She remained there until reactivated and transferred, under the loan provisions of the Military Assistance Program, to the government of Formosa (Taiwan) on 16 February 1959. The former Plunkett served the Taiwanese navy as the Nan Yang (DD-17) until 1975 when she was stricken from the Navy list and scrapped.

Asbestos Risks

The mineral asbestos was widely installed for insulation and as fire control in each U.S. Navy destroyer through both world wars. While nearly every part of a ship like the USS Plunkett offered at least some asbestos exposure, the vessel's boilers and engineering compartments were the workspaces where sailors and shipyard workers were apt to be in danger of inhaling asbestos fibers.

When dealing with asbestos, the highest level of danger to human health happens in situations where items containing the mineral become damaged and breakable, because if the asbestos filaments escape into the air, the particles can be inhaled by those near the hazard. Numerous studies have shown that dangerous medical conditions such as mesothelioma are caused by even modest levels of asbestos exposure. Naval veterans with a history of exposure to this mineral should immediately tell their primary physician as related conditions can often be misdiagnosed.

If you have already been diagnosed with an illness related to asbestos exposure, you may have legal options for compensation. Many have received financial assistance to help pay for medical expenses and lost income. If you would like to learn more about this and treatment options, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a complimentary packet.

Sources:

Destroyers Index